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Dozakhpur to Jannatabad: Myth and Reality As an Environmental Episode in the History of Bengal Md

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Dozakhpur to Jannatabad: Myth and Reality As an Environmental Episode in the History of Bengal Md Jagannath University Journal of Arts Vol-8, No. 2, July-December 2018 Dozakhpur to Jannatabad: Myth and Reality as An Environmental Episode in the History of Bengal * Md. Anisur Rahman Abstract Bengal presently divided as West Bengal, a state in Eastern India and Bangladesh as an independent state since 1971 had abundant wealth from the ancient times which was plundered and attacked by the foreign invaders several times. Visitors and travellers as well visited this land of natural beauty. It is also historically true that from the ancient time a number of travellers visited Bengal and praised lavishly in different names its nature and people. They also provided valuable information and presented the pen-picture of Bengal in their writings from their own experiences about this country. Among the foreign travellers Ibn Battuta (1304-1369 C.E.) came here in 1345-46 C.E. during the reign of Sultan Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah and visited different parts of this country particularly, Chittagong, Sonargoan and Sylhet. His narratives „Tuhfat un Nuzzar fi Gharaib al Amsar wa Azaib al Asfar, gives usa pen-picture of socio-economic, political and environmental condition of contemporaneous Bengal. Battuta entitled Bengal as „Dozakh-i-Pur Nimat’ a hell full of wealth where plenty of resources existed but not a suitable place for livelihood. He also presented the geographical condition of Bengal in his writing from his own experience. He mentioned that Bengal has huge wealth but its environment is not favorable to live here happily; even man cannot stay here permanently on account of natural disaster and epidemic diseases along with turmoil political condition. Within a span of two centuries the geographical phenomenon of ‘Dozakhpur’ was changed into „Jannatabad‟ by the Mughal Emperor Humayun (1504-1556 C.E.) and ‘Jamat-ul-bida’ (Paradise of Province) by Emperor Aurangzeb (1618-1707). Humayun the Emperor of Mughal India marched towards Bengal to defeat Sher Khan and stayed a long time at Gaur of Bengal in July 1538 C.E. Humayun changed the name of the city as „Jannatabad‟ which indicate that Bengal is very suitable place for living and Mughal Emperor got obviously appeasements and was highly satisfied to come here whom he compared as Jannat, a city of heaven. Later Emperor Aurangzeb mentioned Bengal as ‘Jamat-ul-bida’ (Paradise of Province) while even famous Mughal historian Abul Fazal in his monumental book „Ain e Akbari’ highly estimated the natural and environment beauty of Bengal. Such kind of description of the above mentioned personalities always draw the attention to the environmental historians who are critical of the climatic condition of Bengal of that time due to which it came to be known as Dozakhpur by Ibn Battuta and Jannat by Emperor Humayun. *Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic History & Culture, Jagannath University, Dhaka 180 Dozakhpur to Jannatabad: Myth and Reality Aims and Objective The main objective of this research article is to understand two terminology viz., Dozakhpur and Jannatabad which was presented by the two great personalities, traveler Ibn Batuta and Emperor Humayun. Then a new idea should be focused about the environmental phenomenon of the history of medieval Bengal from the comprehension of the two commentators. The reality or myth of that terminology will be highlighted also. It is historically true that from the ancient time Bengal was rich for its natural wealth and beauty which enchanted the foreign invaders and travelers as well. Foreign travelers, Persian chroniclers, company officials and even the Mughal Emperors spoke highly of the wealth and prosperity of Bengal in the pre-British period. In the modern era Adam Smith (1723- 1790) characterized Bengal as one of the richest countries of the contemporary world. At the end a discussion will be presented that how the „Paradise Theory‟ was later reinforced by the leaders of the nationalist movement against the foreign rule. Even this theory vividly reflected the minds of the great poet and the son of soil of Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) who gave Bengal the nom de plume of Sonar Bangla. Later the dream of Sonar Bangla became the reality as an independent country in 1971 by the great leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Methodology and Literature Review In the modern world of research both conventional and non-conventional methods have been applied in this research article. This research work has been undertaken by using the primary and secondary sources. The original works of international scholars regarding this issue have also been taken to develop the idea of Dozakhpur and Jannatabad. The importance of this study can hardly be over estimated as it will add to the existing knowledge on medieval history of Bengal. The renowned researchers and academicians have produced various scholarly works in different aspects of medieval history of Bengal. World renowned scholars like Ross E Dumm, N.K. Bhattasali, Aga Mahidi Hussain, Richard Maxwell Eaton, Abdul Karim and others have undertaken various original research works regarding this issue. Humayun-Nama of Gulbadan Begum and The Rehla of Ibn Battutahas been taken as the primary sources in this research study. The Glimpse of Battuta’s Dozakhpur Shaykh Abu Abdullah surname Ibn Batuta (1304-1369 C.E.), a Moroccan Muslim traveller visited Bengal in 1346 C.E. as a part of his Jagannath University Journal of Arts 181 world journey. He visited glorious towns, cities and Khanqahs1 of Bengal. History records that Battuta visited Bengal through the sea route and Sudkawan (present Chittagong) was his as the first town in Bengal. From there he went to Kamaru (present Kamrupa) and then came to Sylhet to meet with the great Sufi Shaykh Jalaluddin.2 Battuta came later to Sunurkawan (present Sonargaon the then capital of Sultanate Bengal) on 14 August 1346. According to Banglapedia Battuta stayed in Bengal less than two months i.e. between July and August 1346. 3 Completing his world tour Battuta came back in his homeland Morocco where he described his personal experience on the visit of the universe which was listened and composed by Ibn Jaazayy4 as the „ Tuhfat-un-Nuzzar fi Gharaib-il-Amsar wa Ajaib-il-Asfr‟5 . This book gives us valuable information about the history of Medieval Bengal where Battuta mentioned Bengal as „Dozakhpur‟ a city of hell in reference to the attitude of Khorasani traders. Such kind of comments had created a sensation in the intellectual arena and scholars have undertaken various steps to find out the reason of mentioning Bengal as „Dozakhpur‟ by Ibn Battuta. Actually Battuta mentioned that Bengal has plenty of resources but the daily life of the common masses is very harder and the slavery system existed, slave boys and girls used to be sold and purchased in the open market. History records that he himself purchased a young slave woman named Ashura.6 But he was surprised to observe the cheap price of daily commodities which he would not find in other place of the world. He mentioned that “Bengal is a vast country and abounds in rice. In the whole world I did not see a country where commodities were cheaper than in Bengal.” 7 His descriptions mentioning Bengal as a heavily populated water-soaked garden of immense fertility give us the environmental phenomenon of Bengal. From Sylhet he went southward of Bengal through the Meghna River whom he compared with the river Nile of Egypt to see the water wheel, gardens, and villages on the river bank. 8 Battuta also describes that the inhabitants of the East Bengal hills are noted for their devotion to and practice of magic and witchcraft. 9 He also mentioned the social aspects of Bengal and remarked the influence of the Sufis on both Hindu and Muslim society. When he stayed in Sylhet he observed that people certainly come and visit Shaykh Jalaluddin.10 Bengal had the flourishing domestic and foreign trade links and local markets were full of goods and merchandise caravans always borne by the waterways.11 All these indicates that Bengal is rich in her economy, trade and commerce as well. 182 Dozakhpur to Jannatabad: Myth and Reality In spite of this reality Bengal is not suitable habitation to live in. The environment is very foggy and disasterable. Mosquito, snake, various harmful insects and epidemics is the part of their daily life. Life is always in risk in fear of death. Life expectancy of the people here is very short. Environment of Bengal is sometime a curse for their livelihood. On the other hand this environment has given Bengal plenty of wealth. Here is the ill- treatment of the nature that the people of Bengal have the huge wealth but they cannot consume their wealth on account of unfavourable jealousy of nature. The title of Bengal as „Dozakhpur’ by Ibn Battuta has the reality and the environmental philosophy of composing history which was associated in his writing. History cannot be objective without having knowledge on geography. It is noted that how geography affected the daily life of Bengal during that time can be understood by the writing of Ibn Battuta. Bengal as Jannatabad of Humayun Mughal Emperor Humayun came to Bengal (Gaur, the northern part of Bengal) which is unique for its natural beauty on account of its nearest position with Himalayas) in 1538 to defeat his rival Sher Khan (1486-1545 C.E.).12 Actually Humayun came to know of Sher Khan‟s stronghold in Bengal and he immediately advanced towards Gaur and captured the city.13 History records that the Mughal captured Gaur and renamed the city as Jannatabad. 14 The climate of Northern part of Bengal is very lucid and calm. During June-July the North Bengal are blessed with huge number of seasonal fruits and flowers.
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